Missing Indians part of immigration scam; Church shocked

In what has shocked the Catholic community in the country, latest reports confirmed that the missing 39 Indians, who disappeared in New Zealand en route to Sydney, were members of an immigration scam, who conned the Church leaders for an easy exit.

The youths, who were part of a 510 member Catholic delegation to Sydney, might be victims of an immigration scam, said a New Zealand immigration official.

Australian officials along with the New Zealand authorities are hunting for the missing Indians, who caused headlines in the country.

"At least 39 Indians, all men aged 17 to 35, were given visitors' visas for New Zealand after saying they wanted to stop in the country en route to Sydney for the huge gathering of young Catholics," according to Brisbane Times, a national daily in Australia.

"But only 181 of a group of 220 left Auckland for Sydney, despite all being booked to fly on," added the report.

Meanwhile, a member of New Zealand's Indian community alleged that he was in touch with the missing group and that they have apprised him of their intention to remain there.

New Zealand Sikh Society Auckland spokesman Daljit Singh said he had been in contact with some of the men, who claimed to have paid thousands of dollars to an immigration agent in India.

Two of the men he had spoken to were not even Catholic and Mr Singh said he was upset by the group's behaviour, which he felt might exemplify a wrong image of the Indian community.

Speaking to Christian Today, Father James, a senior Catholic prelate in the capital, said the incident has dismayed the Catholic community in the country.

"The youths were selected only after being seriously scrutinized. It is totally shocking to learn that they deceived us, to serve their purpose,” he said.

According to the law, since the men's visitor visas remain valid, they have not committed any crime.

The six–day celebration of World Youth Day by the Roman Catholic Church began yesterday, July 15–20.